Martyrs’ Cemetery and Mother Albania

About Martyrs’ Cemetery and Mother Albania

By the ULTIMATE Tirana Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

On a hill in the south-east of the city, the National Martyrs’ Cemetery holds the graves of Albanian partisans who died in the Second World War. Above it stands Mother Albania, a 12-metre concrete statue dedicated in 1972 by the sculptors Kristaq Rama, Muntaz Dhrami and Shaban Hadëri, holding a laurel wreath and a star over the graves. Enver Hoxha was first buried here before being moved to a public cemetery. It is a solemn place with wide views over Tirana; visit respectfully.

The national cemetery

On a hill in the south-east of Tirana lies the National Martyrs’ Cemetery, Varrezat e Dëshmorëve të Kombit, where Albanian partisans who died in the Second World War are buried, in graves numbering in the thousands. It was the most important state memorial of the communist era, and official ceremonies are still held here.

Mother Albania

Above the graves stands Nëna Shqipëri, Mother Albania, a twelve-metre concrete statue on a three-metre pedestal, dedicated in 1972. It was created by the sculptors Kristaq Rama, Muntaz Dhrami and Shaban Hadëri, and shows the country as a mother keeping watch over the eternal sleep of her sons and daughters, holding a laurel wreath and a star. The inscription reads “Eternal glory to the martyrs of the fatherland”.

A twelve-metre mother holds a laurel wreath and a star over the graves of the partisans who died for her.

Hoxha’s first grave

Enver Hoxha was buried here in 1985. After the fall of communism his remains were moved to an ordinary public cemetery, and the empty site is a quiet reminder of how quickly history turned.

Our advice: come in the late afternoon, when the light falls on the statue and the city spreads out below, and visit respectfully, as families still come to remember their dead.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Martyrs’ Cemetery and Mother Albania before you go.